Hidden behind the relatively unassuming Cow Hollow façade at 2841 Divisadero lies 7,615 modern square feet over four floors including with a three-story sky lit library and gallery.
Public records show the property last changed hands off the market this past October. And while a listing for 2841 Divisadero doesn’t currently show up on the public facing MLS, it is on the market with McGuire and asking $8,500,000.
Bonus points to the reader that can find a good link to the listing.UPDATE: A plugged-in tipster responds with a link to the (still not public) listing.UPDATE: As a plugged-in reader notes, the transfer in October was due to the owner’s passing at ninety with friends by his side (we should all be so lucky). And another reader provides a link to the architects’ (Butler Armsden) overview of the home.UPDATE: As promised, the website for 2814 Divisadero is now live.
∙ Listing: 2841 Divisadero (5/5.5) 7,615 sqft – $8,500,000 [2841divisadero.com] [MLS]
∙ Butler Armsden: Architecture on Exhibit (2841 Divisadero) [butlerarmsden.com]

This and the Royal Towers listing are why staging is sometimes a necessity. This house is just bizarre. What’s with all the parrots? It looks like it was decorated by Salvador Dali’s unheralded and untalented brother-in-law. 8.5 million just seems like a price plucked from nowhere. I’d price it at about 750 per foot, so around 5.7 million – which is still a lot for Divis.

The views are amazing. I think the interior would look a lot better with good interior decoration, and if you’re spending $9M on that house you can presumably afford to hire someone really top notch to decorate your home.
I’m not usually a fan of wall paintings, but there’s something very Magritte about those chairs…

I think the interior would look a lot better with good interior decoration
I think the decor is great (except for a couple chairs). It seems elegant, eclectic, clean, modern, and yet cozy.
If I hadn’t just weeded my meager book collection, I’d chain myself to the library stack structure at the open house and refuse to leave.
Different strokes, I guess.

Wow – it made Socketsite! Thanks for putting it up. Long time reader, occasional poster, haven’t had a listing featured on here since I began working with Neal.
The website goes up Monday (we typically put it up the day before our first Broker’s Tour).
In regards to the exterior – yes, it is certainly unusual. There is a reason for it. The home was designed to literally turn its back to Divisadero Street, and this was done by incorporating an expansive art wall that spans the front of the home. Once you step inside, you see see that the rear of the house plays out like a typical front side, with enormous windows that show views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay, the Presidio, etc. We have had Lewis Butler come through, as he designed/built the house in ’92, and a window can be placed on the front exterior should the new owner want to.
Needless to say, the inside of the house is like something you have never seen. Even the most critical agents we have brought through have been impressed with it. That doesn’t mean it’s for everyone – obviously, it’s not a traditional family house, leaving us a specific segment of the market. The person who buys it will be looking for something one of a kind, and this is it.
If any of you would like floor plans or the brochure emailed, I’d be happy to send it (spodolsky@mcguire.com). Check back on Monday for http://www.2841Divisadero.com
– Sam
[Editor’s Note: Cheers. And as always, thank you for plugging in.]

“the arrogance of modernism”… wow, what a generalization! How about “the arrogance of Victorianism”? So much for celebrating diversity! This is a busy block of a busy street, and if the original owner wanted to turn the house’s back to the street, you might argue that is arrogant or even hateful. But that doesn’t make the entirety of a legitimate movement like modernism those things.

I think I’ve seen more hateful modern exteriors. I absolutely love some of it, the rest, not so much. But the parts I really didn’t like were mostly about the colors and finishes. I kind of like the chairs on the wall even if I’m not sure I’d want to live with them, and I’d want to add that living room window.
Not for everyone, but I think it would work for a family fairly well actually. They don’t stay little very long and having high school and college aged kids myself, I am seriously coveting the library areas.
Good luck, Sambo!

This is actually a “remodel” of an early 60’s era Wurster, although only a small portion of an original wall remained to qualify as such. There was a serenity to street facade of the Wurster as well as in the interior courtyard, with contemporary sculpture, water and bamboo. Lots of light and varied views throughout. A special and unique home, and the “remodel” is too, although not as appealing as the original.

No antiquarian book collector wants sunlight on his books. The architect claims this is a house for a collector of rare books, art and antiques. Even collectors who love modern architecture would want something very different.

@conifer. I would assume that anyone who is a serious book collector would have insisted on UV protected glass.
Amazing place with eclectic collections. Some to my taste, some not. (Okay, more not.)
Amazing architectural design, but does anyone else think that at certain angles inside, it looks like a cellblock at Alcatraz?

Pretty impressive.
Personally, I’m a fan – total diversion from anything else you will find in Pacific Heights. For being built in ’92, it still looks tremendously progressive/forward thinking. I just don’t think you’ll see this level of architecture/design copied and reworked.
If 2342 Broadway listed for $14M went into contract, I think this has a shot at around $8M. Going to take a unique buyer, but possible.

Why?
– spatial quality and flow
– recognition of client’s patterns of living
– quality of light
– understanding of site and orientation toward desired views and away from undesirable views
– quality of detailing
This is what architecture is about. It is not about surfaces, moldings, fixtures or decorative embellishments. (that is what decoration is about).
To Eddy, façade was properly spelled façade not facade, in traditional usage, although facade became popular when English language typewriters did not have a ç key. Computers do.

@Jim
interesting. you sound like an architect, however, oftentimes, the quality of the architecture adds nothing to the intrinsic value of a property.
in other words, the architecture here creates really no value because the location is unattractive.
furthermore, the quality of architecture you describe here can easily be replicated, but it would add value if it were replicated in a better location versus Divisadero at a steep incline.
$8.5 million can buy much better in San Francisco’s 94115 and 94118 zips

@Jackson
Your posts are… bizarre. You seem confused – the property doesn’t look out to Divis. That’s sort of the whole point, and has been discussed a lot in this thread. Secondly, no – this architecture cannot easily be replicated. Like it or dislike it, it is one of a kind.

got it. what you are saying is that I am confused because I disagree with whoever you are that the property is way overpriced which is contrary to your pocketbook. Watch, in the fullness of time, the market will tell you the same thing.
btw, the property does overlook Divisadero which is why its address is 2841 Divisadero…Divisadero has a lot of traffic and for that main reason, it is not an attractive location on a comparative basis.
btw, I am quite familiar w/building in San
Francisco…it would not be complicated to replicate this property’s architecture.

This is clearly a special house. Obviously not for everyone, though special nonetheless…like San Francisco. I think some relatively minor changes could transform this very interesting space into something spectacular. To the seller: take your time. To the buyer: hire the right designer, don’t scrimp and enjoy a one-of-a-kind treasure.

Having been in the house many times, I wish there were before and after photos prior to the staging for the public to see. What’s left is a portion of the important contemporary artwork, some of the family portraits, very few pieces of the antique furniture, and mirrors– unfortunately some has been re-arranged or re-hung throughout– as well as the piano, and books, all of which will go to family after the sale.
The value of the contents far exceeded the value of the house itself: museum quality American and European antique furniture, Oriental carpets, priceless Continental and Oriental decorations and objets d’art, silver displayed (and in the vault), and of course the vintage wine! Most was dispersed to family, a small fraction going to auction or chairity.
Vestiges of a bygone era that fit very nicely and comfortably in a very modern setting! To me, the place now seems a bit contrived and cheapened by the staging, but perhaps better than if it had been left bare.

Those odd closing prices always indicate that there was some serious negotiating leading to a “let’s split the difference” discussion. -11% from asking and under $1000/psf for a pretty prime location and prime views. Divis is less ideal, but it’s a pretty good sale. The seller here had less emotion to the final sale price so this is a pretty good market comp for a good quality view property in D7. Doesn’t bode well for either fillmore house featured here recently, or the other one not featured here.
[Editor’s Note:Now Playing At The On Fillmore: Big Views And The Blues, This Ought To Be Interesting On An Apples-To-Apples Basis, and 2846 Fillmore.]